A former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) – Ms. Suriya Priyangani Sirimanne has filed an anticipatory bail application before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, claiming there is a plan to arrest her by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Colombo Chief Magistrate – Thanuja Lakmali has set the application for consideration on July 08 and ordered Ms. Sirimanne to appear in court on that day.
Meanwhile, a businessman suspected of aiding and abetting the fraudulent acquisition of a revenue license for a Toyota car allegedly imported without customs clearance or original registration, has been remanded until July 08.
The suspect was arrested by CIABOC officers and produced before court yesterday (July 03).
A CIABOC official told the court that another suspect is to be arrested over the same incident.
They said the suspects were working as a network to commit this illegal act.
So far, 03 individuals, including a former Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic, remain in remand custody over this case.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) has said that an investigation into the recent incident where a student fell from the footboard of a ‘Sisu Sariya’ school bus, has revealed that the accident had resulted from the careless and negligent behaviour of both the driver and the conductor.
Issuing a statement, the NTC noted that, based on the preliminary findings, the Road Passenger Transport Authority of the North Western Province has taken steps to temporarily suspend the services of the driver and conductor involved.
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation – K.D. Lal Kantha has announced that the government has decided to import 300,000 MT of maize.
Speaking to the media after attending a District Development Committee meeting at the Kandy District Secretariat yesterday (July 03), the Minister explained that this decision was taken to prevent traders from artificially inflating maize prices.
He stated that certain large and medium-scale businesses dealing with animal feed have been hoarding maize, buying it from farmers at fair prices and reselling it at much higher rates.
According to the Minister, these traders were trying to push maize prices up to Rs.190-200 per kilogram, which would have driven up the cost of eggs to Rs.200 each and increased meat prices significantly.
The Minister emphasized that while businesses are entitled to make a profit, the government will not allow unfair price manipulation. He also noted that, in the past, even ministers profited from animal products, but those days have ended and racketeers will not be allowed to control the market.
To prevent excessive price drops that could hurt farmers, the Food Security Committee has proposed imposing a tax on imported maize, he said.
